trans’fərˈmāSH(ə)n
a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance

To look behind and say, “Look where I came/Look how far I done came/They say that dreams come true/And when they do, that there’s a beautiful thing.” —J. Cole

As we near the end of the year, transformation is in the air; the kind of change that matches the autumnal shift. Change that impacts the lives of young people and transforms communities across L.A. County.

At Ready to Rise we’re embracing transformation—a word that encompasses the work of R2R grantees. And for the rest of 2025, we’ll be focusing on how the special relationships between Ready to Rise, our grantee organizations, and the youth they serve, create positive change inside and outside the youth justice ecosystem.

We’re excited to be sharing the uplifting stories and feature the extraordinary work of the grantees we have the privilege to collaborate with. Some organizations have been a part of the R2R family for years, and are continuing to expand their programming in innovative ways. Others are first-time grantees who are utilizing new resources to build up their capacity and infrastructure.

And it’s not only grantee organizations that are transforming; their impact is changing the lives of system-impacted youth for the better. Ready to Rise funding helps grantees provide a variety of programs focused on multiple facets of youth engagement including: art, education, mental health, housing and workforce development.

These organizations—the majority of whom are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) led—work to ensure young people have access to resources centered on learning, healing and opportunity, while decreasing youth involvement with the criminal justice system. 

Key findings show that enrolling in diversion and development programs has the greatest impact on reduced recidivism for youth.

Source: Los Angeles County Office of Youth Development: The Impact of Youth Diversion in Los Angeles County

As the youth carceral system in California shifts away from prisons and probation camps, Ready to Rise grantees have taken the lead in transforming the way that youth justice is viewed, creating spaces where Black and brown young people from under-resourced communities are invested in instead of locked away.

By supporting community-based programs and strategies, Ready to Rise is committed to ensuring that system-impacted youth have more opportunities to continue their education, find housing security, stay connected to their families, ignite their creativity, and grow into healthy adults.

We can’t wait to share the incredible stories of our partners, our communities, and the youth that will transform the world with you.

Sign up to learn more about the accomplishments, outcomes and successes that are transforming youth enrichment services focused on diversion and prevention.